Overview
A church website can be a great way to keep your congregation informed about church-related news and upcoming events. It can also be used to share photos and inspiring passages.
But creating a website is hard, isn’t it? Not at all. You just need the right tools.
How do I make a website for my church?
There are several key components to creating a church website. While this is by no means a complete, comprehensive list of everything you can do with a website, this should get you started.
Here is a list of services that are required to host a website. They can be purchased from our website at https://christianwebhost.com/ or from your client area.
- Domain Name: This is your name on the internet.
- Web Hosting: This is where you will build and host your website.
- Email Hosting: Typically included with your web hosting, this service allows you to manage your email accounts.
- Other Services: There are several other products and services that can improve your website.
What is a domain name?
To host a website, the first thing you need is a domain name (for example, google.com is a domain name). Your domain name will be the name of your website and will be associated with any email addresses you set up.
You want your domain name to be recognizable by your potential users, and it should be easy to remember. While you may not be able to obtain the .com domain name you want, there are several other TLDs available (we recommend the “.church” TLD for a church website).
You will also want to try to keep your domain name short. While having just your church initials may not be memorable, you also want a domain that is not too long to type.
You can purchase a new domain name from your client area. If you do not have an account with us, you can still access the domain search function here. If you decide to purchase a domain from us, your account will be created at the same time.
What is Web Hosting?
Once you've purchased your domain name, you'll need a place to build your website. This is where web hosting comes in. It's the place that stores your website files and makes them available to the internet.
cPanel-Based Shared Hosting
When you purchase a shared hosting account, you are getting a piece of a server that is shared with other customers. While your information is securely kept separate from that of everyone else, the server will share its resources among all users. However, most basic websites do not require a lot of processing power.
The best, all-around option for web hosting is a shared, cPanel-based web hosting package. This will provide you with a web-based interface to manage all of your website files, as well as your email accounts. You can find more information on using your cPanel here.
From your cPanel, you can upload site files from your own website builder software, use the built-in tools to install a WordPress site, or use one of the many scripts using the included Softaculous Apps Installer.
Shared Hosting Advantages
The primary advantage of a shared hosting plan is its ease of maintenance. When you are on a shared hosting server, we manage the server for you, keeping it updated and running correctly and securely. If an issue arises, it is up to us to resolve it.
Another big advantage of shared web hosting is its affordability. Because the server resources are shared among several customers, fewer overall resources are required. Hardware makes up a significant portion of server costs, so optimizing it helps reduce costs for everyone.
Shared Hosting Disadvantages
The main disadvantage of shared hosting is the “shared” part. While your services are hosted on high-end server hardware, if someone on the server is doing something that overloads it, it can also affect your services.
Additionally, since the server is shared with other users, there is limited customization available on the server side. We optimize our servers for security and functionality to support all users.
Website Builder
If you are looking for an easy tool to host and build your website, our Website Builder service is perfect for you. This service will have you building a fresh, new website in no time.
While our Website Builder service does not include email services, it can be paired seamlessly with our cPanel packages. The simple interface and drag-and-drop functionality will let you build a professional website that contains all the features you would expect from a website. You can purchase this service from your client area to get started.
What is Email Hosting?
Now that you have your new domain and website, you can create your own domain-based email accounts. Having an email mailbox using your own domain makes it look more professional and helps with the recognition of your domain name.
If you have cPanel-based hosting, you will be able to create and manage your email accounts from your cPanel.
What other services are available?
Now that you have a domain and a home for it, you may be wondering if there is anything else that you need for your new website. While not required, we offer several additional services, all of which are available in your client area.
- SSL Certificates: An SSL certificate will help your Google rating and show your users that your site is encrypted and secure. And, you will not have to worry about your potential visitors getting scared off by browser security warnings.
- Search Engine Assist: While primarily geared towards business websites, our Search Engine Assist service (SEO or Search Engine Optimization) helps optimize your website, which in turn improves your Google ranking and increases your site's visibility on the web.
- Email Defense Filtering: One of the downsides of emails is spam. We all get it, and we all hate it. You can reduce the amount of spam that you receive in your mailbox by purchasing the advanced email filtering service. This service will filter your mail and reduce the spam you see in your mailbox.
- Dedicated IP address: If you send a lot of emails, it may be ideal to have your own dedicated IP address for your hosting. This will help maintain your domain reputation and reduce the risk of your email being flagged as spam.